Cooler with tray

ABSTRACT

A cooler with tray product consisting of a rotatably attached tray element located on the exterior body portion of said cooler for providing a flat table surface adjacent to said cooler. A tray cavity for nesting said tray element within the exterior body portion of said cooler. Rotatably mounted leg elements located on the lower tray surface of said tray element for supporting said tray element. Leg cavities for nesting said leg elements located within the lower tray surface said tray element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventions described below relate to the field of a portable cooler,and, more particularly, to such a cooler having a rotatably mounted trayattached onto the cooler's side portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable coolers (also known as ice chests, coolers, etc.) are a commonconsumer product. Portable, insulated containers are commonly used whenelectrical or gas powered refrigeration, or warming means, are notconvenient or available, for example, in remote locations such as thebeach, parks, boating, and the like. They are used to maintain food andbeverages at a desired temperature, usually, but not always, colder thanroom temperature.

It is often desirable to have a table or other work surface upon whichto position food or utensils. Many coolers have flat upper surfaces ontheir lids or covers that may be used as a table surface. However, whenthe lid or cover is being used as a table surface, it is impossible toachieve access to the interior of the cooler without first taking allobjects off of the lid of the cooler.

While there are numerous coolers with table assemblies designed fortransport and accessibility of items within the container, many of thesedesigns found in prior art make no attempt to provide an insulatedstorage container with an attached, deployable table that is engineeredto work with both small and large sized coolers, leaves a smallfootprint, is quickly and easily deployable, is simple to manufacture,adds relatively little weight to the container, contributes noadditional bulk to the container's exterior profile, and, while in aposition of use, allows the user to fully access the interior of thecontainer.

Various coolers contain a tray element that is used as a table surface.Kaplan, Combination portable cooler and retractable tray, U.S. Pat. No.7,334,802 (Jun. 29, 2005) describes a portable cooler with a double “poptop” lid component that allows the user to raise and lock into anadjustably deployed position an upper lid to be used as a table surfacedirectly above the cooler while a lower lid remains in the stowedposition keeping the cooler closed. This invention succeeds in providinga table surface while allowing access to the container, but is notengineered for optimum use with smaller-sized coolers due to thetop-heavy nature of the upward extending upper tray portion; fails to besimply and quickly deployable; fails to be simple to manufacture; itsvarious embodiments each add significant weight to the container; eachof the various embodiments include support components affixed to thecontainer's exterior composition, adding bulk to the exterior of thecontainer; and, finally, none of the embodiments allow the lid to fullyopen while the tray is in its deployed position.

Another such cooler with a table surface is described in Conrado, etal., Wheeled cooler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,179 (Jul. 14, 2000), whereby atray element containing a leg support component therein is attached tothe cooler's lid with a hinge element that allows said tray to swing 180degrees into a deployed position, creating a flat table surface adjacentto the cooler body. This invention succeeds in providing a table surfacewhile allowing access to the container, and allows the lid to be fullyopen while the tray is in its deployed position. However, the embodimentdescribed in this invention adds extra bulk to the lid portion of thecooler, resulting in significant additional weight; a work spaceproportionate to the horizontal length of the cooler is needed in orderfor the fold-over lid to be deployed, requiring a large work space,resulting in an overall large footprint; when the tray is in itsdeployed position and the user opens the cooler cover, said coverrotates over on top of the deployed tray due to the common pivot axis ofthe first and second hinges of the respective cover and tray, resultingin the contents resting atop the table surface to get displaced ordamaged; and, finally, the embodiment described in this invention is notengineered for optimum use with smaller-sized coolers due to theincreased weight of the lid and table assembly.

Furthermore, as seen in Meier, Portable cooler having a removable table,U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,032 (Sep. 14, 1998), a cooler invention is describedas containing a removable tray embedded within a hollow cavity withinthe cooler lid. Said tray is provided with folding legs at one end, andthe other tray end is configured to be matingly received and supportedby either one of two handles of the cooler. This invention succeeds inproviding a table surface while allowing access to the container, andallows the lid to be fully open while the tray is in its deployedposition, and adds no additional bulk to the exterior profile of thecooler by way of embedding the tray within a hollow cavity of the coolerlid, but problems often arise with the stability of the table, and adetached tray/lid may become misplaced or lost, potentially renderingthe assembly inoperable; and, finally, the embodiment described in thisinvention clearly fails to provide the user a quickly deployable,attached table assembly.

The invention described below comprises an insulated storage containerwith a rotatably mounted, deployable table that is embedded within theside portion of the container. Said table is quickly and easilydeployable, engineered to work with both small and large sizecontainers, leaves a small footprint, is simple to manufacture, addsrelatively little weight to the container, contributes no additionalbulk to the container's exterior composition, and, while in a positionof use, allows the user to fully access the interior of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new andimproved portable cooler.

According to one facet of the invention, a cooler is provided thatincludes a typical double-walled cooler body consisting of an interiorcavity and exterior shell comprised of insulating material. Saiddouble-walled cooler body consists of forward and rear walls, end walls,and a bottom panel. An upper access opening is provided for receipt ofitems whose temperature is to be maintained at a predetermined level. Acover member is provided for the access. A tray cavity portion thatincludes a thumb notch and female sockets along its upper edge isprovided on the shell portion of the forward wall. A tray element thatincludes a lower tray surface and male rotatable joint mechanisms alongits upper edge is provided. A pair of leg cavity portions that includefemale sockets and leg thumb notches are contained on said lower traysurface. Two tray legs that include male rotatable joint mechanisms areprovided. The legs have a length generally the same as the height of thebody.

Consequently, the tray element nests within the tray cavity duringtransportation of the cooler and yet may be opened with the legsdeployed to provide a table surface adjacent to the cooler body. The useof the separate tray surface enables one to use the tray surface and yetachieve access to the interior of the cooler body by opening the coverwithout first clearing the tray surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the leg cavities are positioned on the lowertray surface at an angle to gain additional leg length, making up forthe lost distance between the lower edge of the forward wall and loweredge of the tray cavity.

A preferred embodiment includes stops on the tray cavity socket elementsfor engaging the tray joint elements to limit movement of the tray froma stowed position nested within the tray cavity to a deployed positionapproximately 90 degrees therefrom.

A preferred embodiment includes stops on the leg cavity socket elementsfor engaging the leg joint elements to limit movement of the legs from astowed position nested within the leg cavities to a deployed positionapproximately 90 degrees therefrom.

A preferred embodiment includes an impeding element on the leg cavityportion for the purpose of engaging the legs while in the deployedposition approximately 90 degrees from the tray element in order to keepthe legs upright while the tray element is deployed, but is convenientlyovercome by forcing the legs over the impeding element and releasingsaid legs from their deployed position.

A preferred embodiment includes an impeding element on the tray cavityportion for the purpose of engaging the tray in order to keep the traynested within the tray cavity while in a stowed position duringtransport, but is conveniently overcome by forcibly lifting the trayover the impeding element and deploying said tray from its stowedposition.

A preferred embodiment includes a thumb notch on the forward wallportion adjacent to the tray cavity for the purpose of convenientlygrasping hold of the tray element and releasing it from a stowedposition.

A preferred embodiment includes a thumb notch on the lower surface areaof the tray element adjacent to each leg cavity for the purpose ofconveniently grasping hold of the leg element and releasing it from astowed position.

In one embodiment, a tray element is provided on the end wall portion.

In yet another embodiment, a tray element is provided on both exteriorshell forward wall and rear wall portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portablecooler made according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooler with its tray member extendedand leg elements in a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a is a perspective view of the cooler with its tray memberextended and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooler with the cover member removedand tray member and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the cooler with its tray memberextended and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the forward facing wall portion with the traymember in its stowed position nested within the tray cavity;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the forward facing wall portion with the traymember removed and tray cavity exposed;

FIG. 8 is a birds-eye view of the lower tray surface with the legelements in their stowed position nested within the leg cavity portions;

FIG. 9 is a birds-eye view of the lower tray surface with the legelements removed and leg cavity portions exposed;

FIG. 10 is a vertical view illustrating an alternative configuration oftray members contained on each side of the cooler; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative configurationof a cooler with the tray member residing on an end wall.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understoodby turning to the following description of the preferred embodimentswhich are presented as illustrated examples of the invention in anysubsequent claims in any application claiming priority to thisapplication. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined bysuch claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments describedbelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the figures wherein like references define like elementsamong the several views, FIG. 1 shows the exemplary embodiment of thePortable Cooler 1. Said cooler includes a typical double-walled coolerbody consisting of an interior cavity and exterior shell comprised ofinsulating material. Said embodiment includes four principal componentsincluding a Body 24, a Cover Member 5, a Tray 8 which is embedded in andpivoted to the Body 24 by means to be seen, and Legs 10 which areembedded in and pivoted to the Tray 8 by means to be seen.

Addressing the Body 24, and as seen in FIG. 1, the same includes aForward Wall 2, opposed End Walls 25, 26, a Rear Wall 3, and a BottomPanel 4. A Tray Cavity 9 is embedded on the shell of Forward Wall 2 bymeans to be seen for the purpose of nesting a Tray 8. Body 24 isgenerally rectangular in shape. Briefly referring to FIG. 4, UpperAccess Opening 6 gives way to Internal Container Cavity 7.

Again referring to FIG. 1 and addressing the Cover Member 5, the same,for example, is a removable lid for the purpose of achieving accesses tothe container's interior while in its deployed position, and, keepingthe contents therein at a desirable temperature while in its stowedposition. It is common in the field of coolers for the lid to attach tothe body by way of a rotatably mounted hinge mechanism whereby the lidcan be opened and closed while remaining permanently attached to thebody. For descriptive purposes of the present invention, the cooler isdescribed as having a removable lid.

Briefly referring to FIG. 5, the Body 24 and Cover Member 5 are made upof Insulating Material 27 as is well known. Conventionally, Body 24 willinclude an inner shell (not shown), an outer shell, and foam forming theInsulating Material 27.

Again referring to FIG. 1 and addressing the Tray 8, which is located onForward Wall 2 of Body 24. Tray 8 nests inside Tray Cavity 9 of ForwardWall 2. Said Tray Cavity 9 is formed in the same configuration as theTray 8 to substantially fully receive the Tray 8 in the retracted orstowed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired, suitable detents(not shown) may be employed to releasably retain the Tray 8 within theTray Cavity 9. When Tray 8 is in its stowed position, it is in abutmentwith Tray Cavity 9, resulting in a flat surface area along Forward Wall2 of Body 24.

Now referring to FIG. 6, located at either end of the Tray Upper Edge 18of Tray 8 is a pair of Tray Joints 13. Tray Joint End Points 35 arelocated at opposing ends of said Tray Joints 13. Furthermore, a pair ofTray Flex Notches 29 are located between Tray Joint End points 35 alongthe upper edge of said Tray Joints 13.

Turning to FIG. 7, the Tray Cavity Sockets 14 of Tray Cavity 9, locatedalong Upper Tray Cavity Edge 19, are provided for the purpose ofreceiving Tray Joints 13. Located at opposing ends of the Tray CavitySockets 14 are Tray Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 33 for thepurpose of retaining Tray Joint End Points 31.

Tray Joint End Points 31 are forcibly constrained toward each other byway of the Tray Flex Notches 29, allowing said Tray Joint End Points 31to be fitted into their stowed position underneath Tray Cavity SocketOverlapping Portions 33 of Tray Cavity Sockets 14, as shown in FIGS. 1and 6.

Referring again to FIG. 6, once Tray Joints 13 are stowed within TrayCavity Sockets 14, Tray Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 33 retainTray Joint End Points 31 keeping Tray Joints 13 contained within TrayCavity Sockets 14, thereby attaching Tray 8 to Tray Cavity 9 of ForwardWall 2 of Body 24.

Tray Joints 13 pivot within Tray Cavity Sockets 14 approximately 90degrees, resulting in Tray 8 extending outward from Forward Wall 2 intoa deployed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, providing aFlat Table Surface 28 adjacent to said Forward Wall 2.

Again referring to FIG. 7, a Tray Cavity Thumb Notch 21 is provided onForward Wall 2 adjacent to Tray Cavity 9 for the purpose of convenientlygrasping hold of Tray 8 and releasing it from a stowed position.

Turning now to FIG. 8 and addressing the pair of Legs 10, which arelocated on Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8. Legs 10 nest inside LegCavity 11 of Tray 8. Said Leg Cavity 11 is formed in the sameconfiguration as the Legs 10 to substantially fully receive the Legs 10in the retracted or stowed position as illustrated in FIG. 8. Ifdesired, suitable detents (not shown) may be employed to releasablyretain the Legs 10 within the Leg Cavity 11. When Legs 10 are in theirstowed position, they are in abutment with Leg Cavity 11, resulting in aflat surface area along Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8.

Again referring to FIG. 8, a pair of Leg Joints 15 are located on Legs10. Leg Joint End Points 32 are located at opposing ends of said LegJoints 15. Furthermore, a pair of Leg Flex Notches 30 are locatedbetween Leg Joint End Points 32 of Legs 10.

Briefly turning to FIG. 9, located on Leg Cavity 11 of Lower TraySurface 12 of Tray 8 is a pair of Leg Cavity Sockets 16 for the purposeof receiving Leg Joints 15. Located at opposing ends of Leg CavitySockets 16 are Leg Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 34 for the purposeof retaining Leg Joint End Points 32.

Leg Joint End Points 32 are forcibly constrained toward each other byway of the Leg Flex Notches 30, allowing said Leg Joint End Points 32 tobe fitted into their stowed position underneath Leg Cavity SocketOverlapping Portions 34 of Leg Cavity Sockets 16, as shown in FIG. 8.

Again referring to FIG. 8, once Leg Joints 15 are stowed within LegCavity Sockets 16, Leg Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 34 retain LegJoint End Points 32 keeping Leg Joints 15 contained within Leg CavitySockets 16, thereby attaching Legs 10 to Leg Cavity 11 of Lower TraySurface 12 of Tray 8.

Leg Joints 15 pivot within Leg Cavity Sockets 16 approximately 90degrees, resulting in Legs 10 extending outward from Tray 8 into adeployed position, and serve as vertical braces for said Tray 8, asillustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that the vertical length of theLegs 10 are substantially the same as the vertical distance between theForward Wall Lower Edge 17 of the Body 24 and the Tray Cavity Upper Edge19 so that when the Legs 10 are deployed, Tray Surface 28 will be flatand said Tray Surface 28 will be perpendicular to Forward Wall 2 at agenerally 90-degree angle thereto.

Again referring to FIG. 3, Lost Distance 23 is the surface area betweenForward Wall Lower Edge 17 of the Body 24 and Tray Cavity Lower Edge 20.Briefly referring to FIG. 8, it is noted that Legs 10 and Leg Cavities11 are set at an angle. The purpose of the angularly positioned Legs 10and Leg Cavities 11 is to gain additional leg length to compensate forLost Distance 23, thereby enabling Tray Surface 28 to rest in itsdeployed position perpendicular to Forward Wall 2.

Referring once again to FIG. 9, a pair of Leg Cavity Thumb Notches 22 isprovided on Lower Tray Surface 12 adjacent to Leg Cavity 11 for thepurpose of conveniently grasping hold of Legs 10 and releasing them froma stowed position.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustratedembodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and thatit should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by anyclaims in any subsequent application claiming priority to thisapplication.

For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of such a claimmay be set forth in a certain combination, it must be expresslyunderstood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, moreor different elements, which are disclosed in above even when notinitially claimed in such combinations.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and itsvarious embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of theircommonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in thisspecification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of thecommonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in thecontext of this specification as including more than one meaning, thenits use in a subsequent claim must be understood as being generic to allpossible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

The definitions of the words or elements of any claims in any subsequentapplication claiming priority to this application should be, therefore,defined to include not only the combination of elements which areliterally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts forperforming substantially the same function in substantially the same wayto obtain substantially the same result. In this sense, it is thereforecontemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements maybe made for any one of the elements in such claims below or that asingle element may be substituted for two or more elements in such aclaim.

Although elements may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even subsequently claimed as such, it is to beexpressly understood that one or more elements from a claimedcombination can in some cases be excised from the combination and thatsuch claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination orvariation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from any subsequently claimed subject matter asviewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or laterdevised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within thescope of such claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or laterknown to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within thescope of the defined elements.

Any claims in any subsequent application claiming priority to thisapplication are thus to be understood to include what is specificallyillustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, whatcan be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates theessential idea of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A cooler comprising: a cooler body of insulating materialand including an internal cavity having an upper access opening forreceipt of items whose temperature is to be maintained at apredetermined level; a cover for said access opening; a tray elementrotatably connected to the exterior body portion of said cooler; a traycavity element for nesting said tray element within the exterior bodyportion of said cooler.
 2. The cooler of claim 1 wherein the trayelement contains rotatably connected leg elements located on the lowertray surface of said tray element.
 2. The cooler of claim 1 furthercomprising leg cavity elements for nesting said leg elements within thelower tray surface of said tray element.